Howdy folks! Welcome to new visitors, hi! to returning ones. Here is a new batch of hillbilly bop/rockabillies, taken from various sources (thanks Youtube!) for your own pleasure.

First, a survivor in style. LOUIE BASHELL (and his Silk Umbrella Orchestra !) and « Oklahoma Boogie » (RCA 47-5583, 1954) could well have been issued at least 5 years before, when accordion was in demand and dominated the songs of Pee Wee King, Spade Cooley, Wes Tuttle during the late ’40s. Anyway « Oklahoma Boogie« , with its Western swing flavour, is a driving track.

From the same period I’d assume, 1954-1955 in Oakland, California. CHARLES WAYNE and the Rattlesnake Ramblers for both sides of his Spur issue (# 1245): « Rodeo Time Is Here » and « Rockin’ Rollin’ Rhythm« .Piano well to the fore (barroom style), and a fine vocal. The whole reminds me of 1951 Charlie Graci‘s sides on Cadillac or 20th Fox (« Wilwdood Boogie« ). Charles Wayne was the brother of Black Jack Wayne, a long-forgotten but important figure in the Norther California hillbilly bop scene. A feature on him is in the pipeline.

From Madison, Tennessee on the Logan label (# 3111), the 1959 Rockabilly oriented Hillbilly bop « It Was You » by LONNIE MULLINS. Strong guitar (bass chords) and great urgent vocal. The Logan label issued a mere 40 sides, among them the great « You Tore Your Playhouse Down » by Rabon Sanders (to be heard in the « early January 2012 fortnight’s favourites » article – seach for it with the button). Lonnie Mullins‘ flipside « Since You’ve Gone » was issued on Collector 4449 « Slow Boogie Rockin’ » vol. 5.

From Florida I’d assume on the Jay label (# 72) do come the fine fast duet of JIM & EDITH YOUNG for the very good and aptly named « Hill Billy Moon » from 1957. Flash! Udo Frank corrected me. The disc do come from Sydney, Ohio. Thanks, Udo!

To sum up, two Bluegrass oriented hillbillies. First a slow one, the bluesy (great dobro) « I’m A Loser » from a PINKY PINKSTON (thanks Rock’n’Roll Daddy-O Youtube chain) on the rare Fine-R-Tone label ( 6). Strangely billed « Custom record service », I really have no clue which larger label this one was pressed and distributed by. Maybe Ohio? North Carolina?

DENNIS GOODRICH had his « All Alone » on the Lorain, Ohio Debute label (# 0500). Coincidence! Anyway this is a fine fast Bluegrass number. Hope you will enjoy the selections!